Syllogism - Logical Deduction

Syllogism questions test your ability to draw logical conclusions from given statements.

Basic Structure

A syllogism consists of:

• Premise 1: First statement
• Premise 2: Second statement
• Conclusion: What follows from the premises

Types of Statements

Universal Statements

• Universal Affirmative (A-type): All A are B
• Universal Negative (E-type): No A are B

Particular Statements

• Particular Affirmative (I-type): Some A are B
• Particular Negative (O-type): Some A are not B

Venn Diagram Method

All A are B

[A inside B]

No A are B

[A and B separate circles]

Some A are B

[Overlapping circles]

Some A are not B

[Overlapping circles with non-overlapping part]

Common Rules

1. If All A are B and All B are C, then All A are C
2. If All A are B and Some B are C, then Some A are C
3. If No A are B and All B are C, then No A are C
4. If Some A are B and All B are C, then Some A are C

Practice Questions

Question 1

Statements:

• All dogs are animals
• All animals are four-legged

Conclusion:

• All dogs are four-legged

Question 2

Statements:

• Some students are intelligent
• All intelligent people are successful

Conclusion:

• Some students are successful

Question 3

Statements:

• No politicians are honest
• Some honest people are doctors

Conclusion:

• Some politicians are not doctors

Question 4

Statements:

• All flowers are plants
• Some plants are trees

Conclusion:

• Some flowers are trees

Question 5

Statements:

• All birds can fly
• Some birds are parrots

Conclusion:

• Some parrots can fly

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